Coming from the harsh wastelands of the North, the Vikings are a fearsome group who kill, pillage, and destroy anything in their path. Despite their rather barbaric nature, upon returning home they live out mostly peaceful lives which include farming and raising their children to become just as fond of combat as they are.

At 1st level, a Viking has spent so much time on a rocking boat that she gets a +3 inherent bonus to balance checks and a +2 on saves to avoid being knocked prone or to stay upright on an undulating surface.

Starting at 2nd level, a Viking can react to danger before her senses would normally allow her to do so. She retains her Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if she is caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. However, she still loses her Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized. If a Viking already has uncanny dodge from a different class she automatically gains improved uncanny dodge (see below) instead.

A Viking can fly into a rage a certain number of times per day. In a rage, a Viking temporarily gains a +4 bonus to Strength, a +4 bonus to Constitution, and a +2 morale bonus on Will saves, but he takes a –2 penalty to Armor Class. The increase in Constitution increases the Viking’s hit points by 2 points per level, but these hit points go away at the end of the rage when his Constitution score drops back to normal. (These extra hit points are not lost first the way temporary hit points are.) While raging, a Viking cannot use any Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills (except for Balance, Escape Artist, Intimidate, and Ride), the Concentration skill, or any abilities that require patience or concentration, nor can he cast spells or activate magic items that require a command word, a spell trigger (such as a wand), or spell completion (such as a scroll) to function. He can use any feat he has except Combat Expertise, item creation feats, and metamagic feats. A fit of rage lasts for a number of rounds equal to 3 + the character’s (newly improved) Constitution modifier. A Viking may prematurely end his rage. At the end of the rage, the Viking loses the rage modifiers and restrictions and becomes fatigued (–2 penalty to Strength, –2 penalty to Dexterity, can’t charge or run) for the duration of the current encounter (unless he is a 18th-level Viking, at which point this limitation no longer applies; see below).

A Viking can fly into a rage only once per encounter. At 3rd level he can use his rage ability once per day. At 7th level and every four levels thereafter, he can use it one additional time per day (to a maximum of five times per day at 19th level). Entering a rage takes no time itself, but a Viking can do it only during his action, not in response to someone else’s action.

At 4th level and higher, a Viking can avoid even magical and unusual attacks with great agility. If she makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, she instead takes no damage. Evasion can be used only if the viking is wearing light armor medium armor or no armor. A helpless viking does not gain the benefit of evasion.

At 5th level or higher, if a Viking successfully feints against an opponent, any attacks she makes in the same round deal an extra 1d6 damage. This damage increases by 1d6 every five levels. If a Viking can attack multiple times in the same round, the damage is applied to each attack separately.

A Viking of 6th level or higher can no longer be flanked. This defense denies an enemy the ability to sneak attack the character by flanking her, unless the attacker has at least four more rogue levels than the target does Viking. If a character already has uncanny dodge (see above) from a second class, the character automatically gains improved uncanny dodge instead, and the levels from the classes that grant uncanny dodge stack to determine the minimum rogue level required to flank the character.

Starting at 8th level, a Viking gains a +1 bonus on Reflex saves made to avoid traps and a +1 dodge bonus to AC against attacks made by traps. These bonuses rise by +1 every four Viking levels thereafter (12th, 16th, and 20th level). Trap sense bonuses gained from multiple classes stack.

A player may use a battle cry as a standard action to try to make enemies within 50ft run as though feared. Enemies must make a will save of ten plus the player's level to not be affected. For example enemy must get a 19 or more to beat the battle cry when the player is level 9

Starting at 16th level, this ability works like evasion, except that while the Viking still takes no damage on a successful Reflex saving throw against attacks henceforth she henceforth takes only half damage on a failed save. A helpless Viking does not gain the benefit of improved evasion.

At 17th level and higher, a Viking can feint as a free action once per round. This means, among other things, that a viking can make a full attack action and apply her low blow damage to every attack involved.

Religion: they worship the Æsir Pantheon, but most of all Njordr and Ægir (marine gods), as well as Thor and Freyr.

Other Classes: Vikings fit most with Skalds, who are their faithful companions of adventures and the recorders of their feats. They appreciate Healers and even Ranger or Rogues, for their peculiar ability. Barbarians and Fighters are as well valuable allies. They tend to mistrust arcane classes and even divine classes, for their powers..

Combat: They can fit nearly all roles, from Assault (with Rage), to Sneak (with Low Blow), however they are best in melee.

Advancement: Some level of Skald or Healer can be useful. Authoritative Vikings can take the prestige class Legendary Leader, or if they wish, they can try enter the elite troops of Jomsviking or the Variag Guard in Basilea.

Characters with ranks in Knowledge (Geography) can research Vikings to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

Knowledge (Geography)

DC

Result

5

Vikings are terrible and merciless pirate in the North Sea.

10

Vikings can sail quickly and arrive unexpected with their Drakkar ships, so that they favour surprise attacks.

15

Vikings are cunning navigators and they can reach also very far lands, in search for booty or revenge.

20

Vikings are divided in several warbands, chiefdoms and fiefs, so that it can be possible to take advantage of this.